Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Chicago man who planned to travel to Somalia to fight for a terrorist group pleaded guilty on Monday to terrorism-related charges .

Shaker Masri , a 28-year old U.S. citizen , pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support for Al-Shabaab , a group he knew the United States had designated as a foreign terrorist organization , according to prosecutors .

In his plea agreement , Masri said that on July 19 , 2010 , he told an associate he `` wanted to travel to a conflict zone to engage in jihadist fighting '' and that he had the choice of going to Afghanistan to help al Qaeda or travel to Somalia to aid Al-Shabaab . Masri told his associate he had decided to go to Somalia but he needed money .

The associate -- who was actually a source assisting law enforcement -- said he would help Masri but insisted on going to join Al-Shabaab as well . Masri agreed , according to the plea agreement .

Over several weeks Masri and his associate worked on their travel plans including `` how to conceal their departure , the financial costs of the journey , the necessity of supplies , and the weapons they would need to acquire in Somalia . ''

The plea agreement says the associate asked Masri how they would link up with Al-Shabaab once they arrived in Somalia . Masri explained that they would be traveling to a part of southern Somalia that was controlled by Al-Shabaab and said `` he expected that they would be placed with a brigade of al-Shabaab 's militia comprised of foreign fighters . ''

According to the plea agreement , Masri said to avoid suspicion they should not travel directly to East Africa . Instead Masri decided on a route through California , Mexico , and then a `` Latin or South American country that did not work with United States ' law enforcement '' and then on to East Africa . Masri told his associate that once they left for Somalia they would be `` wanted men . ''

Masri also told his associate that he needed to get rid of his laptop because it had information that could be incriminating , and buy a new one .

In late July Masri and the man he believed to be his co-conspirator purchased one-way tickets to California to begin their circuitous journey . On August 3 , 2010 -- the day before their scheduled departure -- Masri and his associate drove to a liquor store where the associate allegedly picked up $ 18,000 to fund their trip . Next they went to a store to buy a new laptop . Masri was arrested when he left the store .

Earlier in his case Masri also was charged with attempting or conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States . A criminal complaint charged he wanted to wear a suicide vest and become a martyr with an attack on `` infidels . '' Under the terms of the plea agreement that charge was dropped .

Masri is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16 , and his plea agreement calls for a sentence of nine years and 10 months in prison on the conspiracy to provide material support charge .

Chicago terror suspect 's long road to seeking martyrdom

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The 28-year-old U.S. citizen told an associate he wanted to engage in `` jihadist fighting ''

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The associate was actually a source assisting law enforcement

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The man 's plea agreement calls for a sentence of nearly 10 years in prison